Plate push button



W. W. BROCKWAY March 20, 1951 PLATE PUSH BUTTON Filed Nov. 3,

[N V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 20, 1951 U N-I TED .S TAT E S ?AT1E NT OFF PLATE-PUSH BUTTON Wilhelm W. Brockway,-Los Angeles,.0alif.

Application November 3, 1945, 'SerialN 0.626512 :3 :Glaims. 1

The invention relates to electr-icswitches and particularly switches which maybe attached to a wall or building structure and which are onerated by a luminous plate rather than the conventional push button.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide, therefore, a new "and improved-plate push button switch which,"while incorporating an illuminating means, is at the same time compact in design and economical of manufacture.

.Another objector the invention is to provide a'new'and improvedelectric switch capable of utilizing a plate foroperating theswitch contact points with provision being ma'de'for readily re- -moving .the plate whenever it is "desired to gain 'access to the interior.

Still another object of theinvention is'to provide an electric switch construction which is adapted tobe permanently secured to a wall or other building structure-wherein the number of' parts has 'beenkept relatively to-a minimum and soarranged that they can be readily assembled and.disassembledwithout it being necessary to shut offthe electric current.

A further objectof the invention isto provide :a wall type electricJsWitch having an illuminated control plate or panel of a relatively large size sothatthe switch can be. readily located at all times and operated with particular lease.

'Withthese and other .objects'in view, the in- 5 vention consists invthe construction, arrangement and combination of the variousparts oft-he 'device whereby the-objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,

pointed out in the claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, .in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal 'elevational view of .the device shown partly in section andmounted upon a building-structure.

.Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the "back of the device: taken on-theline-22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3. is a longitudinal sectional view of the .device taken on the line 3--:3 .of Figure 2.

- Figure 4.15 2, wiring diagram of the switch .cir-

ecuit inJa typical. installation.

.widely; recognized.

A plate push button switch of the kind herein disclosed is especially adapted touse in circuits where only an instantaneous connection may be 7 needed. One advantageous use-of=theswitch is in'the remote control of --animpulserelayconstituting the-immediate switch means for closing a circuit such as a lighting circuit,'with the impulse relay located nearer to the light. or: other device to be energized, than is :thepush-button switch. When used in circuits involving a relay a momentary closure is-sufiicient :to excite the relay which may then through suitablemechanismbe adapted toclose another switch. When 'put to such use electric "connections between the switch andthelrelay "need carry but a-relatively light, safe voltage-and heavy voltagellines maybe confined to the relay switches.

The device comprising-the subject matter'o'f this i invention is an electric switchin which an illuminating means is'incorporated: and which is further provided with a plate for .replacing' the ordinary push-button; adapted to be illuminated throughout, .thereby providing a switch xurnt which can he'located-and operated with exceptional ease wherever it maybe installed.

In an embodiment chosen to illustrate the in vention there has been provided a switch-box Iil shown mounted upon a-clip ll, attached toa --wall structure l2 of alouilding. "The switch box may be expcsed ormay, as shownin Figure 1,

.be concealed within .the .wall structure of the building so that the rim .of the cbox is approxiimatelyiflush with the wallzsurface.

Within the 1 switch 'ibox .iszlocated a frame l3 providing amounting for the entireiswitch mechanism. In. order to secure the frame -.within ,the iswitch box there 1arepprovided. spring elements it at the sides of the frame-which are designed rjto press outwardly iniorderato frictionallyigrip the inside, surface of the =wall::of1'the switch'ihox "whenever the frame is received thereinzas' shown in. Figure .1. outwardly .bent rim elements 'l5 o.n vthe; frame engage thezswitch: box to :fix'the position of the frame.

So that the frame may provide .a .suitable :mountingfor electric; parts ithas, attached there,- p-toabase [6. Tabs ll oftheframe havea straight portion which fitsintorslotsdGrin theedg-eiofthe base and-a bent over portionpressedagainstthe .outside face. athereforrests on the bottom edge: leof' the frame. this means theqbase will-.be-securely held in place .on the frame.

The circumference ,of ,the base llpush plate memberill :is-mounted-uponthe opposite side of the frame and comprises an-exterior plate element-ll :whichoverlies both the frame and the switch box .andwhich ,is wide enough and :longenough-tso that: it::may;;be-easily located and operated. Also comprising a part of the push plate member is an inner plate section 22, parallel to and spaced from the plate element 2! by a laterally open space 23. On the inside surface of the push plate member there is provided a centrally located recess 33 extending into the push plate member so that the thickness of the member at the mid-portion is substantially the thickness of the plate element 2 i When the member comprises a relatively translucent material light behind the member will readily pass through and illuminate it. For holding the member in place there are provided turned-over lips 24 at the edge of the frame which are adapted to engage portions of the inner plate section 22. By keeping the dimension between the bottom of one space 23 and the edge of the plate section 22 on the opposite side approximately the same or slightly more than the distance between opposite edges of the lips 24, the plate section may readily be inserted into the frame to the position shown in Figure 3. When in position it may be shifted laterally so that the plate section engages the lips 24 on both sides. One side may be considered as a hinge and the other side as a latch.

In order to retain the push plate member in proper position there is provided on the lower side of the frame a somewhat S-shaped spring arm 25, one end 26 of which is riveted to the base by means of a rivet 21 and having a free end 28 adapted to enter the recess 33 at the lower outside corner where a shallow depression may be provided for its reception if desired.

At the upper side of the frame, as shown in Figure 3, there is provided a second spring contact arm 29 of less resistance than the spring arm 25 which likewise has one end 3E3 anchored in place upon the base by a peened or riveted end 34 of an extension of a binding post 35. The arm 29 has a curved free end 3| pressed against the inside surface of the inner plate section 22. By the combined action of the spring arm 25 and spring contact arm 29 the inner plate section is pressed outwardly into contact with the lips and because of the lateral thrust of the spring arm 25 is prevented from shifting in an edgewise direction in the plane of the lips 24.

The binding post 35, shown mounted at the rear of the base, has an inside neck 32 extending through the end 30 of the contact arm where it is riveted over as previously noted so that a single riveted connection secures both the binding post and end of the arm in position. It will be clear, also, that the rivet provides an electric contact between the arm and the binding post. A wire aperture 35' in the binding post facilitates the making of a good electric connection.

A second binding post 35 is located adjacent the first post and is similarly provided with a central wire aperture 3's and an inside riveting end 38. The riveting end is designed to extend through one end 39 of a second arcuate spring contact member All, a free end l! of which is curved to a position spaced from but adjacent the free end 3| of the contact arm 29.

On some occasions a relay incorporating a three-way switch may be desirable. For this purpose, there is incorporated a resilient contact member 58 attached by means of a rivet 59 to the base It where it may be electrically connected to a binding post 36 having the same general description as the binding posts 35 and 36. As illustrated herein, the member 58 has a turned over end 60 adapted to normally engage a bent portion SI of the contact arm 29. This 4 provides for ready conversion of the unit into a three-way switch.

To provide a lamp socket for a lamp 52 the base has a lamp socket aperture 42 centrally lo cated and of a diameter sufficient to permit the insertion of a lamp base 43. It will be noted that the end 39 of the contact member 4i} has an angularly bent portion 24 extending into the aperture 42 and rearwardly into contact with a corresponding aperture in a back plate 46. The extension of the bent portion into the aperture prevents the contact member from rotating out of position around its single rivet connection. On the opposite side of the aperture the end 26 of the spring arm 25 has a similar angularly bent portion 45 extending through the aperture to the back plate. The last described construction likewise prevents inadvertent rotation of the spring arm 25.

The back plate 45 provides reinforcement for the aperture and is applied to the rear of the base. The rivet 27, by means of which the spring arm 25 is mounted, is also utilized to anchor the plate to the base at one point. The plate is anchored at a second point by means of the riveted end 38 of the binding post 36 which thereby serves three distinct purposes, securing the binding post, back plate and contact member M3 to the base.

At the sides of the aperture 42 are provided oppositely disposed recesses 41 adapted to receive ins it at the sides of the lamp base when the lamp base is inserted into the aperture 42. Radially extending raised sections 49 in the plate it at the sides of the aperture 42 are provided, spaced a substantial distance from each other and adapted to retain one of the pins 28 between them, to latch the lamp base in place.

For holding the lamp base in mounted position there is provided a spring 55), a free end of which overlies the aperture 42 and which is anchored to the base by means of two rivets 5 I The spring supplies a continuous pressure against the lamp base and presses the pin steadily against the back plate. The bulb of the lamp will be located within the frame and immediately behind the recess 33.

In order to connect the lamp in circuit a lead 53 extends from the rivet 34, electrically connected to the binding post 35, through a resistance 5 3 and thence to one of the rivets 5i. By placing a resistance in the lead line less current is permitted to pass through the lamp which permits it a longer life. Current through the lead 53 passes through the spring 58 to the center contact of the lamp base. The opposite lamp base contact comprises a collar of conventional construction around the lamp base and is connected through the bent portion 44 of the spring contact member All to the binding post 33. The diagram of Figure 4 shows the resistance in circuit with the lamp, the resistance being of such magnitude that what current passes through it is insufficient to operate an electric device 55 until the resistance and lamp are short circuited out by closing contact between the contact arms 29 and MB.

When the device is to be installed electric wires are extended into the interior of the switch box it, long enough to be drawn through the box and connected to the respective binding posts 55 and 35 and also to 35' in case a three way connection is needed, before the frame is applied to the box. After the connections have been made the frame may be pushed into the switch box I tained additionally by the rim elements into the position shown in Figure 1 where it is held in place by the spring elements I4 and rel5, which may be applied to the outside edge of the switch box. The push plate member and the lamp may be removed while the frame is being pushed into place. The lamp may now be applied by pushing the lamp base through the aperture 42 against the spring 50 and then twisting it so that one of the pins 48 falls between the raised sections 49 in the back plate 46. The push plate member may now be applied by placing the top of the inner plate section beneath the upper lip 24 so that the lip extends into the adjacent space 23. The plate member is pushed up high enough so that the lower side of the inner plate section slips past the edge of the lower lip 24. Meanwhile, the free end 28 of the spring arm 25 will find its way into the recess 33. With both top and bottom of the inner plate section 22 inside of the lips 24 the plate member may be shifted downwardly and there held by the spring arm 25 so that the lips engage on both sides. The plate member will be pressed outwardly by both the spring arm 25 and the contact arm 29, and in particular will be prevented from shifting laterally by the spring arm 25. The plate member may be removed by reversing this process whenever it might be desired to replace the lamp.

Figure 5 shows a circuit adapted to use three switches, two having three contact points. In a circuit of this description switch A may be of the conventional two-contact type, whereas, switches B and C may be of the three-contact type. In the arrangement shown switch A may be considered as a master switch capable of closing circuits normally operated by switches B and C regardless of the condition of switches B and C. Independently of the master switch either of switches 13 or C may be operated separately. The reference characters in Figure 5 will be found to correspond to the reference characters of Figure 3.

By the construction just described there has been provided a plate push button switch of compact design, all parts of which are mounted together so that the device may be applied as a unit to a switch box, and which is so designed that it may be readily disassembled for any servicing which might be necessary. The lamp will remain illuminated while the switch is open as long as current flows and will illuminate the broad face of the exterior plate element 2|, so that it can be easily located and operated.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A push plate electric switch structure for controlling an electric circuit in a building having a switch box mounted in a wall thereof, comprising: a metallic frame for mounting said structure in said box, said frame having a rear opening and having a front opening defined by lips projecting toward each other fromopposite sides of the frame, a base of insulating material mounted in said frame and traversing said rear opening, switch contact members mounted on said base and extending forwardly with their forward ends normally in spaced relationship, and an integral push plate unit of insulating material including a forward push plate member, a neck portion projecting rearwardly from the central portion of said push plate member and a pair of fingers extending in opposite directions from the rear extremity of said neck portion, generally parallel to and spaced from said push plate member to define spaces in which said lips are respectively received, with the extremities of said push plate member overhanging said lips, one of said switch elements bearing yieldingly against the rear side of said push plate unit and urging the same forwardly so that said fingers normally contact said lips, said frame being receivable in said switch box in a position in which said push plate is disposed forwardly of the outer side of the box, and said spaces being of sufiicient depth to permit rearward movement of said push plate such as to move the last mentioned contact into engagement with the other contact, said overhanging extremities of said push plate member being engageable with said lips to limit such rearward movement.

2. A push plate structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said push plate unit has an area such as to completely cover the front side of said search box when said frame is installed therein.

3. A push plate structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame has, in opposite sides thereof, outwardly struck tongues adapted to resiliently engage the opposite inner walls of said switch box whereby to frictionally retain said frame within said box.

WILHELM W. BROCKWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 642,844 Heidel Feb. 6, 1900 769,203 Wheeler Sept. 6, 1904 809,595 Wilks Jan. 9, 1906 1,295,912 Manson Mar. 4, 1919 1,614,887 Hill Jan. 18, 1927 1,935,467 Beer et a1 Nov. 14, 1933 1,967,030 Kull July 17, 1934 2,025,981 Getty Dec. 31, 1935 2,069,382 Morton et al Feb. 2, 1937 2,236,081 Wood Mar. 25, 1941 2,240,044 Kramer Apr. 29, 1941 2,266,412 Cochrane Dec. 16, 1941 2,273,353 Harris Feb. 17, 1942 2,352,353 White June 27, 1944 2,404,982 Owens July 30, 1946 

